Chapter 437
Clack, clack.
The carriage racing along the official road had already entered Yongning Prefecture.
Inside the carriage, a man dressed in plain white martial robes with a gentle appearance sat gazing out the window. It was Bu Eun-seol.
Having escaped the Southern Barbarian Region, he had already passed the outskirts of Yunnan and was now heading toward Sichuan.
'Things have gone surprisingly well.'
A faint smile played at the corners of Bu Eun-seol's lips as he looked out the window.
Jeok Mu-mi, now the leader of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace, had immediately sent an envoy to the Martial Alliance declaring her intention to join them...
With this achievement alone, he would likely secure the position of Second-grade Commander in one stroke.
'Then I'll have to decide where to pledge my allegiance.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed slightly.
Should he join the Hall of Martial Ascension?
Or perhaps the Star Guard Corps?
The Seven Great Battle Corps of the Martial Alliance were the seven pillars that truly upheld the organization, wielding immense power.
Moreover, Baekri Mu-jo, the leader of the Star Guard Corps, held considerable favor toward him.
Bu Eun-seol, too, felt an inexplicable affinity for the Star Guard Corps leader...
If he were to serve under him, he could rise steadily in rank without facing interference from other factions.
'But...'
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
His goal wasn't promotion.
He needed to uncover the Three Realms organization that had infiltrated the Martial Alliance and identify the suspicious figure among the Seven Great Leaders suspected of killing his grandfather.
A stable rise in rank?
That was never what Bu Eun-seol desired.
'What if I choose the Hall of Martial Ascension?'
Yuk Jang-cheon was eyeing the vacant position of the Heavenly Martial Brigade's leader, left open after Jo Cheon-wang stepped down.
For that reason, he was desperate to achieve various merits.
Because in the Martial Alliance, the achievements of one's subordinates were credited to their commander.
Thus, Yuk Jang-cheon had long sought to recruit exceptional subordinates... and now, more than anyone, he desperately needed a talent like Seon-u Jin.
If he chose the Hall of Martial Ascension?
Thanks to Yuk Jang-cheon, who was obsessed with accumulating merits, Bu Eun-seol could monopolize various missions.
If he continuously built achievements until Yuk Jang-cheon finally became the leader of the Heavenly Martial Brigade...
'I could become nothing less than the trusted right hand of one of the Seven Great Battle Corps leaders.'
From Yuk Jang-cheon's perspective, he would have no choice but to place absolute trust in Bu Eun-seol—someone who had risen from the bottom and accomplished tremendous feats.
Moreover, the only outstanding talents under his command were his only daughter, Yuk Cheong-a, and a handful of others. But he would never appoint his own daughter or aging hall leaders as deputy leaders.
Perhaps Bu Eun-seol could even ascend to the staggering position of Deputy Leader.
—Should he take the safe path? Or the risky one?
Having reached this conclusion, Bu Eun-seol didn't even need to deliberate.
From the very beginning, he had never intended to secure a stable position within the Martial Alliance.
'Above all, Hall Master Yuk is definitely not affiliated with the Three Realms.'
But what if Baekri Mu-jo, leader of the Star Guard Corps, was connected to the Three Realms?
If so, he might luckily be drawn into the organization.
But there was no telling when that would happen—and even if it did, his position might be insignificant.
Because the Three Realms only recruited those they deemed necessary.
If Bu Eun-seol failed to secure a high-ranking position?
Even if he were recruited into the Three Realms, he might end up as nothing more than a disposable pawn.
'I'll elevate Yuk Jang-cheon to the position of Heavenly Martial Brigade leader!'
Bu Eun-seol made his decision.
He would join the Hall of Martial Ascension, continuously build achievements, raise Yuk Jang-cheon to the rank of brigade leader... and become his right-hand man.
That would grant him far more power than growing steadily under the Star Guard Corps leader.
And if luck was on his side, it might even provide an opportunity to quickly make contact with the Three Realms' upper echelons.
'The best-case scenario would be attracting the Three Realms' attention before Hall Master Yuk secures the brigade leader position, prompting them to recruit me.'
As the Heir of the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol would eventually have to take responsibility for both the Demon Hall and the Demonic Path's affairs, meaning he would inevitably have to refuse the Three Realms' offer outright.
But under the identity of Seon-u Jin, things were different.
Even if he accepted their recruitment, there would be no restrictions.
Thus, rather than rising to a high-ranking position in the Martial Alliance, Bu Eun-seol much preferred the idea of being recruited into the Three Realms by one of their key figures at a prestigious rank.
"We've arrived."
As the carriage came to a stop in the bustling streets of Chengdu, the coachman's voice sounded from outside.
Bu Eun-seol opened the door and stepped out.
But then—
Whoosh.
A strange Sound of Breaking Air echoed from the distant sky.
It resembled the flapping of a bird's wings.
But in truth, it was a kind of signal—one used by the members of the Death Soul Squad to announce their presence.
'The Death Soul Squad...?'
"You've worked hard."
After paying the coachman generously, Bu Eun-seol left the city and headed back outside Chengdu.
Immediately, he activated his Lightness Skill and moved toward the source of the flapping sound.
By the time he reached a clearing deep in the forest, the sound had vanished.
As Bu Eun-seol scanned the area, his gaze lingered on a boulder nestled naturally beside a large tree.
"Long time no see."
Then, an extremely soft and low voice came from the boulder.
It was the voice of So-yo.
She had finally completed all her training—martial arts, knowledge, everything—and emerged into the Rivers and Lakes as the Death Soul Squad's Deputy Unit Leader.
"Have you finished all your training?"
"..."
Her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.
Had Bu Eun-seol not mastered the Way of the Beast, he wouldn't have been able to hear her whisper at all.
"There's no one around for a hundred paces. No need to hide like this to talk."
"We must always be cautious. And—"
So-yo's voice was so faint it was barely audible, tickling Bu Eun-seol's ears.
"I'm your subordinate, aren't I? Speak comfortably."
"Mm."
A fair point.
Though So-yo was senior in experience, she wasn't someone he had known for just a year or two. It was better to maintain discipline.
"Fine."
Bu Eun-seol nodded and spoke calmly.
"But what brings you here? There was no need to come all this way just to join me."
Then, from the small boulder, So-yo's voice flowed out again.
"There was urgent business, so I came immediately."
"Urgent business?"
"The Martial Alliance secretly dispatched an investigation team."
"An investigation team?"
"Because you secured the peace agreement with the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace too quickly. The process was so smooth that it aroused suspicion... They've sent a special investigation team from within."
So-yo's tone was composed, but the content was chilling.
"The 'special investigation team' is just a pretext. There's a high probability that someone in the High Command has sent an assassination squad."
"An assassination squad."
"Yes. After investigating, we found that this special investigation team is composed of individuals not officially registered with the Martial Alliance."
A flash of insight crossed Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
He recalled the blue-eyed man who had once belonged to the Martial Alliance.
Despite holding a high position and mastering formidable martial arts, that man had never been officially recorded in the Alliance's registry, instead carrying out assassination missions in the shadows.
And now, the Martial Alliance's High Command had sent a special investigation team made up of unregistered operatives?
"The Three Realms."
Bu Eun-seol nodded as realization dawned.
Perhaps, because of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace affair, the Three Realms had grown suspicious of his identity as Seon-u Jin.
Perhaps they had mobilized their agents within the Martial Alliance to thoroughly investigate—or even eliminate—him.
"The Three Realms, lurking within the Martial Alliance, have begun to move."
"Correct. That's our assessment as well. Though it might not necessarily be because of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace matter."
"I see. I was too complacent."
A bitter smile touched Bu Eun-seol's lips.
"Even if it wasn't about the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace, this was a hurdle I'd have to face eventually."
It seemed he had underestimated the complexity of the Martial Alliance as a coalition.
At the very top of the Martial Alliance, the Three Realms had made their nest.
From their perspective, if they discovered a promising sprout, they might nurture it carefully.
But conversely... they might also see it as a troublesome weed.
"If they've already established a stable composition, they wouldn't want a new standout to emerge."
So-yo nodded in agreement.
"Most likely. The Three Realms seem to want the Martial Alliance's internal structure to remain stable, just as it is now."
The Three Realms must have been greatly unsettled by the rise of a new talent.
Perhaps this "special investigation team" was a ploy to find any pretext—no matter how flimsy—to eliminate Bu Eun-seol without a trace.
For a Third-grade Commander wandering the martial world alone, fabricating a reason and evidence would be child's play.
"You must avoid them."
So-yo spoke firmly.
"There's no telling what they might do."
"No."
After a moment of thought, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"If I evade their pursuit and secretly return to the Martial Alliance, I'll immediately draw suspicion."
The Three Realms would have meticulously tracked Bu Eun-seol's movements and predicted his return route before dispatching the investigation team.
But if he suddenly altered his path and shook them off?
Not only the Three Realms but the entire High Command of the Martial Alliance would grow suspicious.
If that happened, every step he took from then on would be scrutinized.
"Then you intend to confront them?"
"Hard to say. I can only hope it's just an ordinary investigation team."
Bu Eun-seol forced a wry smile.
In truth, the odds of that were nonexistent.
If it were a simple investigation, it wouldn't have triggered the Death Soul Squad's surveillance network, nor would there be any reason to investigate someone diligently making their way back to the Martial Alliance out in the martial world.
"A double identity is important, but not more important than your life."
At So-yo's words, Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky.
He couldn't deliberately shake off their pursuit, nor could he simply submit if they framed him or struck him down.
There was no clear way out.
"A shame. If I could just get past this hurdle, I'd rise to Second-grade Commander and firmly establish my place in the Martial Alliance—then even the Three Realms wouldn't dare act recklessly."
Bu Eun-seol had only crafted his movements to avoid the Martial Alliance's suspicion.
He hadn't accounted for the Three Realms, who had long nested within the Alliance.
The position of a Third-grade Corps Commander—a low-ranking leader of a minor unit—guaranteed nothing.
He should have kept that in mind from the start, but now it was too late.
"First, go to Seo Jin-ha and deliver my orders."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
"Tell him to stop fabricating my movements immediately. I may no longer be able to use the identity of Seon-u Jin."
So-yo nodded with a grave expression.
She understood that Bu Eun-seol was preparing for the worst.
Kurung.
But suddenly, the clear sky began to tinge with gray.
At the same time, an inexplicable energy began to spread through the forest.
"Evacuate immediately."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath as he spoke.
"An extraordinary master has arrived. Most likely... it's them."
He could sense it.
The unknown energy enveloping both the sky and the forest—it was the unmistakable sign of an overwhelmingly powerful master detecting his presence, one radiating immense killing intent.
"Understood."
The moment So-yo responded, she vanished completely.
Even Bu Eun-seol, who had heightened his Beast Path senses, struggled to perceive her disappearance.
'With movement technique at that level, she should be able to escape any situation at the very least.'
So-yo's training had been long and rigorous—precisely because Bu Eun-seol had prioritized her safety above all else.
He had given strict orders to No Trace, leader of the Death Soul Squad:
"Do not allow her to emerge from seclusion until she reaches a level of concealment and movement technique comparable to my own."
Traveling the martial world together meant they could encounter enemies far stronger than themselves at any moment.
That was why So-yo's movement and stealth techniques had to reach at least a similar level—so that even if Bu Eun-seol himself fell, she could still escape safely.
"Hm?"
But something was strange.
After So-yo left, the ominous energy permeating the forest seemed to shift, as if following her.
'Could it be... that she's the actual target?'
Flash!
Bu Eun-seol instantly pushed his Beast Path to its utmost limit.
As his extrasensory perception expanded over three hundred yards, a white light flickered in his pupils.
Flash!
And then—finally detecting the energy pursuing So-yo from high above—he immediately unleashed a hidden blade.
KRRRUMBLE!
The moment the blade shot into the sky, thunder abruptly roared across the heavens—
KWA-BOOM!
—before a blinding white bolt of lightning struck down beside the rock where Bu Eun-seol stood.
CRACK!
The boulder shattered beyond recognition.
KRRRRR—!
At the same time, another bolt of lightning crashed into the ground, revealing a silhouette wreathed in light.
Flash!
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol launched another hidden blade.
There was no need to ask for the intruder's identity—hostility had already been declared.
Zzzt—!
But then, a burst of white flame flared—and the flying blade froze midair.
The space around the flickering white fire distorted like a reflection in water, as if time itself had stopped in that single spot.
Snap. Zzzt.
The blade shattered, and the figure cloaked in white flame and light slowly revealed itself.
A man with long, unbound hair, clad in a strange black robe that shimmered with an eerie glow.
His height exceeded seven feet, his limbs grotesquely elongated—like a stretched wooden puppet.
Yet there was no sense of frailty.
Instead, his entire body exuded a solid, unyielding presence, as if forged from twisted metal.
The most peculiar detail? His eyes—where pupils should have gleamed—were tightly shut.
"You've got fingers in every pie, don't you?"
The Man in Black's voice was so low and hoarse it sounded less like human speech and more like the hiss of a serpent.
'He's monstrously strong.'
Bu Eun-seol's instincts screamed warnings.
He couldn't sense anything from the Man in Black—not even the depth of his internal energy.
That meant only one thing: this man was either equal to him—or stronger.
Just where had such a master come from?
"I'll grant you mercy."
The Man in Black spoke without opening his eyes.
"Tell me where the one who fled went... and I'll kill you painlessly."
Shockingly, it was clear—he wasn't after Bu Eun-seol.
He was pursuing So-yo.
To have seen through her concealment, which even Bu Eun-seol struggled to detect—
Just what was this man?
"'Kill me painlessly'? My, what a grand favor you're offering."
For now, Bu Eun-seol was still in the guise of Seon-u Jin—his voice light and composed.
"But I think there's been a misunderstanding, friend."
Clasping his hands politely, he adopted a courteous expression.
"I am a unit chief in the Martial Alliance."
"Yes. The Martial Alliance."
The Man in Black curled his lips into a rancid smile.
"The Alliance has so many of you."
Flick.
At the same time, he finally opened his eyes—wide.
His pupils were clouded white, like transparent mist, within which crackled ceaseless blue lightning.
"Wretches like you, hiding in the shadows!"
The Man in Black roared, his entire body erupting with Flashing Thunder—as if plucked straight from the storm clouds.
The brilliance alone was blinding, and within those white eyes swirled a madness mingled with killing intent.
KRRRUMBLE!
Thunder boomed as the space around the Man in Black began to darken.
The energy radiating from him charred the surrounding trees and underbrush black in an instant.
Watching this, Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
'Divine Thunder Annihilation...'
Only now did he realize the man's identity.
'The Thunder God.'
One born with the Thunder Spirit Physique, capable of wielding the supreme force of Thunder Essence Divine Qi—
The unstoppable, inescapable power of annihilation, capable of unleashing endless Divine Thunder Annihilation.
One of the Four Gods and Seven Kings—the Thunder God had suddenly appeared.